Month: April 2011

Pizzeria Orso

Neapolitan style pizza is my favorite kind of pizza, but it is sometimes difficult to find. Pizzeria Paradiso was my go-to place in DC, but it is a 40 minute trip for me, and I needed to find something closer. I read about the opening of a Neapolitan pizzeria in Falls Church but never managed to make it over there, until recently. Thank goodness I did! Because Pizzeria Orso is every bit as delicious as Paradiso and much, much closer.

I tried the Margherita DOC (more information on DOC), and it took me right back to Italy – thin, tender crust that was perfectly charred and puffy at the edges; fresh, flavorful tomato; creamy fresh mozzarella; fresh basil; and olive oil. I also tried a seasonal pizza, the Molla, with ricotta, garlic, ramps, and an egg. The ricotta was creamy and sweetened by the garlic, the ramps were mild and a little charred, and the egg had a perfectly runny and oozing yolk. It was a perfect spring pizza.

The menu also features antipasti. I tried the arancini – crispy spheres of risotto with a mild tomato flavor. They were fun to munch on, but nothing special – I preferred the calamari, which were very tender, coated in a light batter, and served with a basil aioli that I found slightly addictive. The desserts are classic Italian – gelato, tiramisu, cannoli. I tried a seasonal special – polenta cake flavored with rosemary, filled with mascarpone, and served with blackberries and an orange mascarpone creamy – sunny and delicious, like summer.

www.pizzeriaorso.com

Plaka Grill

I absolutely love Greek food, but I have been bad about exploring the local offerings (mostly because the husband is not overly enthusiastic). I kept hearing fantastic things about Vienna staple Plaka Grill, so I decided to try it out on my own. I was not disappointed! Plaka is in a tiny strip center location off of 123. One whole wall is painted with a mural that took me straight back to San Torini, Greece. The food was equally nostalgic for me.

Plaka is famous for their signature Gyro sandwich – spit grilled pork sliced and served in pita bread with tomatoes, onions, fries, and tzatziki (a yogurt and cucumber sauce). They also serve the more familiar “Chicago Gyro” – pressed lamb and beef that is grilled and sliced. I have tried both, and they are fantastic. Some may say that it is sacrilege, but I usually prefer the Chicago style. I like that the meat has a more uniform texture with just a bit of crunch on the outer edges. I have also tried the Tyropites – phyllo dough triangles stuffed with feta and herbs. They are amazing – creamy and tangy on the inside, crispy and buttery on the outside. I would love to try their spinach filled cousins – the Spanakopites. Plaka also serves one of my favorite Greek desserts, which is not Baklava (gasp! i know), but Galaktoboureko – phyllo dough filled with custard and soaked in an orange scented honey syrup.

I have also tried their Moussaka dinner plates (one of my favorite dishes, if you couldn’t tell from my post. It was very good – tender eggplant, rich tomato and meat ragu with lots of cinnamon flavor, creamy bechamel on top. It comes with a Greek salad, and some lovely roasted potatoes. It also comes with pita bread, which is nice except that there is really nothing to dip it in or eat it with. I had to order some tzatziki on the side.

**EDIT – How could I forget to mention the fries?! They are so good – hot and fresh and coated in salt, garlic powder (?), and herbs. They definitely do not need ketchup.**